Conirostrum sitticolor
The Blue-backed Conebill, *Conirostrum sitticolor*, is a small, striking tanager species endemic to the high-altitude Andes. It measures approximately 10-12 cm (4-4.7 inches) in length and weighs 8-12 grams, possessing an elegant, slender body. Its most distinctive field marks include vibrant iridescent blue to purplish-blue upperparts, a contrasting black facial mask extending from the lores to the ear coverts, and warm rufous to cinnamon underparts. The species is aptly named for its unique...
Exclusively inhabits humid montane cloud forests, elfin forests, and forest edges at high elevations. Typically found in the canopy and sub-canopy of these dense, misty environments.
Primarily feeds on nectar, which it obtains by probing flowers with its specialized bill, supplemented significantly by small arthropods (insects, spiders) gleaned from foliage and bark, and occasionally small fruits.
This active species is often observed singly, in pairs, or, most commonly, as a prominent member of mixed-species foraging flocks, moving rapidly through the canopy and sub-canopy. Its primary foraging strategy involves probing flowers for nectar using its specialized bill, often hovering briefly...
The Blue-backed Conebill is widely distributed across the Andes Mountains of South America, spanning from western Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, extending into central Bolivia. It primarily inhabits elevations between 2,000 and 3,500 meters (approximately 6,500 to 11,500 fee...
Least Concern
- The Blue-backed Conebill's slender, slightly upturned bill is a highly specialized adaptation for extracting nectar from flowers, making it an ecological equivalent to hummingbirds in some aspects. - Despite its 'conebill' moniker, its bill is less conical and more slender than other conebill s...